Portable displayer



May 23, 1939. A. M. BARRETT PORTABLE DISPLAYER Filed June 29, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 May Z3, 1939;

A. M. BARRETT PORTABIJE DISPLAYER Filed June 29, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fifZ /Zu-PM Barre??? ,fiwmw I 5y JM [raven-i on Patented May 23, 1939 J at notation ol llllnois Thisinvention relatesto portable dl'splayers of thekeaselbindertyp such aslaretused by sales-: en and others in presenting prospective ustomers sales literature plctures, charts, and

other materialin convenient form.

n t of displaying advertising and sales literature or 1 the like haveflembodied yariouskinds o: auxiliary l0 uppbi'ts ,whl havebeen; rather unsightly and a umbersome to manipulate, and, moreover, can

ot always be relied upon" to support the device gidly and ilr nly in display position. For ex- I inple, loose leaf binders have Ibeen eonstructed l 15 with a brace or panel securedgtoflthe fbackbdne rigid central section of the binder, but withut anyfparticular means tor holding the covers ntheir eatended or unfolded position for display; 1 i t n t Furtherfsuch binders usually require an extra 2ot peration when folding "up the binder after the mpletion of a sales presentation, and in addition there was falwayssome likelihood that the ':display supporting portion of, the binder might move outwardly; either partially or wholly; into display position afterfthe binder had been s 1: "I'hefobject andgeneral j natiire of thisinven tion the provision f "of a" portable displayer in n t the fiorm of an easelbinderwhichcan be quickly j t 'jset"up in y display position ahdtaken ddwn with ijequal rapidity? without" requiring any more yinanipnlationthan merely opening or closing the binder as if it wereabook." nnotherjfeatureflof n t j thisinvention is the provision of a portable dis- 1 player which cannot fall down or shift its posivarious parts ;of the binder are supported firmly and positivelyin display position. .t

invention is Another 1m rtant feature oi which the supporting easel section thereof is subbinder and acts as thecover for the binder; there- *fore prQViding,"first; anfexceptio llyfneat appearing unit when closed; "second; a sturdyisup w t q yu h tel wr other mat r al to be :di Played; W e; aid t vl vi d w it tan? :b r rnoved fromdisplaypositionandfolded or closed mane "motion; andiourthl a d sp ay i dc Qwlriich) when-folded, thereis nodanger thatthe innerf'falnd outer f saver sections "will f accidentally becomesepali ate n I hnese anedt ermtie n n I this invention 'will beeppsr ent tothosskilledin 55 theart atteraconsideration'ofthef owIngde a and iv ntagesbf heretofore,jbinders jthat ,were adapted to be upported in a vertical position for the purpose line 3 3 ofFigure 1;

yuan when arranged for display, and in which the stahially coextensive with the cover panes "of the t such as fabri pr the" like, indicated"at was in Arthur M. Barrett. WinnetkaQIlL. *a'ssignor to ThenBarrett Bindery 00.. Chicago; Ill., a'cor- RElssuE "swam s .tu e 29, 1938. s ria 'No. 216,53? 2 7 1940 '1 Claims. (Cl. 281- 33) tailed description of the preferred structural embodlment of this invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment.

In thedrawingsz t t t Figure l is afront view of a portable display binder shown in its openlordisplay position;

t Figure 2 is a back view oi the binder shown in Figure 3is a section taken-generally snag] the Figure4 is a perspective'vie w of the binder shown in its closed or folded position;

Figure 5 is a front view of. the binder in its open position, showing, the form and arrangement of the booster leaves which raise the sheets during the closing of the binder;

' t Figure 6 illustrates theformof sheets preterably employedl in the binder for display purposes; i i t Figure 7 is anenlarged sectiontaken alon the line 'I-Q-Tof Figure ,;1 a i i Figure 8 is a sectionsimilar to Figure 7, showing the action of the booster; leaves in raising the sheet onto the curved portions of the arches during theclos'ingt of the binder; and it Figure Q a. small perspective view of the auxiliary member cooperating with the booster Referring ow fto the drawings, more particu larly to Figures 1 to 4, the portable displayer in which the principles of. the present invention have beenembodied indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral land includes inside and outside cover sections 2 and 3. The inside 1 cover section consists of a relatively narrow back portion Sandapair of coverpanels 5 and I. The cover panels 6 and 1 maybe oi any suitable cons'truction and are hingedly connected to thc edges of the central portion 5, which carries the sheet receiving or binding means and cooperates there with to formmthe fbackbone 0f the binder. Preferably, thegbinding means is of thelooseleaf varietyyembodying hingedrings or arches, but it]is.to be understood that anytform of binding means may be used, as desired. i

For example, referring to FigureslahddQtha I center section 5'eonsists of a strip of wood, fibre board, o th ,like, indicated at 51;, and the inside coverpanels 6 and 1 consist of sheets oi heavy fibre boardj or the like, "indicated at Ba} and 1a. Theportionsfia, GaQan'dfIa of the inside ,cover section 2 are enclosedby any suitable material;

in Figures 1, 4 and binder for display,

being separated from the center sheet a by a space, and the fabric binding at this point forming hinges l2 and I3 by means of which the.

inside cover panels 6 to the central arch bone of the binder.

The outside cover section 3 is formed similar to and, is substantially coextensive with the inside cover section 2; in fact, thgputer cover section 3 extends outwardly beyond and downwardly below the inside cover section 2, as clearly indicated 5. The outside cover section 3 consists of a central portion l 5 and cover panels l6 and IT. The central portion i5 is made'upof a narrow strip of wood, fibre board, or the like, indicated at 1 5a, and similarly the outside cover panels l6 and. I1 include sheets of fibre board or the like, indicated at 16a and Ila, respectively. The outside cover panels and the central panel and 1 can swing with respect supporting portion or backsection are covered by a binding of fabric or the like, indicated at It, and "the central strip l5a is separated from the panel sheets I 60. and Na by a space, forming hinges 2| and 22. The central strip l5a of the outer cover section is slightly wider and longer than the inside central section, whereby both inside and outside cover panels can be swung together into and out. of closed and open positions merely by grapsing the outside cover panels. The outside cover panels I 6 and I! are slightly wider than the inner panels 6 and 1, extending beyond the edges of the inside cover panels 6 and 'l as indicated at in Figure 1, and the inside and outside cover sections 2 and 3 are hingedly connected together along their upper edges as indicated at 21 in Figure 3. Preferably, this hinge is formed, like the hinges l2, l3 and 2|, 22 described above, by the binding of fabric or other material of which the two cover sections are constructed. A pair of flexible tapes are riveted,-as at 3| and 32, or otherwise secured at their ends to the opposite cover panels 6, l6 and 1, l1. As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the tapes 30 are fastened adjacent the outer side edges of the panels and spaced upwardly from the bottom edges a suflicient distance so that when the binder is closed, as in Figure 4, the tapes lie between the panels and are not exposed.

Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, illustrate the display position of the binder, and Figure 4 illustrates the closed or folded position. To set up the all that it is necessary to do is to open the binder'as if it werea book, bring the inside and outside covers in an extended or planar relation, and then swing the outside cover section 3rearwardly away from the front or inside cover-section 2, to the position shown in Figures 1 to 3. The binder willthen remain in its sub.- stantially vertical position, resting on thelower edges of the inside and outside cover sections. Since the two sections are at an angle to one another (Figure 3) there is no likelihood of the binder accidentally closing, since each section holds the other in extended position positively and firmly and without any danger of the binder falling or shifting its position.

The binder may be moved from its display position (Figure 1) to a closed position (Figure 4) in one motion and in a few seconds, simply by grasping the two top outside corners, which closes the inside and outside covers against one another, and then folding the covers over toward one another. The outside cover panelsJG and, l1,

it will be noted, completely enclose and overlie the inside cover panels 6 and 1 so that, for all practical purposes, the outside cover panels 16 [can be brought together of, the upper slots 41 to bear vided with handles if desired, in which case the handles preferably will be arranged so that they merely by the act of closing the binder.

The loose leaf ring binder unit, mentioned above as serving to reenforce the central portion or back 5 of the inside cover section 2, is indicated in its entirely by the reference numeral and may be of any suitable construction. Preferably, however, the unit 35 includes two pairs 36 and 31 of rings" or arches, each of which has an outer arcuate section and straight sides or legs. One leg of the arch of each pair is connected to the corresponding leg of the adjacent arch to thereby form a hinge which is pivotally received by a supporting member 38, which may be in the form of a sheet metal tube or the like and enclosing suitable spring means 39 for releasably holding the arches 36 and 31 in their closed position. The rigid supporting member 38 is riveted or-otherwise fixedly secured tothe back 5 of the inside cover section, as indicated at 4| and 42. The arcuate portion of the arch 31 is shown in Figure 7 by the reference numeral 31a, and the straight of the arch 31 are indipreferably the sheets are punched so that the openings are spaced further from the inside edge, indicated at 45a, than the lower openings 48. The purposeof this arrangement is to provide sheets or pages that do not sag or fall down when they are supported generally vertically in display position. As best indicated in Figure 6, the weight of each sheet causes the inner ends against the associated arche'aand similarly theouter ends of the lower slots 48 bear against the side portions of the lower arches 31. Thus supported in this manner, the sheets 45 are held with their inner edges 35a in accurate alignment or registry, even though the sheets are displayed substantially vertically. in a display binder of the easel type in that photographs, charts, maps, and the like, which may extend over two pages, may be shown, but

the inner margins of the two sheets are maintained in substantial registry without any unsightly center gap or bulge. I

In ambinder in which sheets, punched asjust described, are used and displayed in substantially vertical position, it is quite desirable to have the associated rings or arches provided with straight portions, asat 31b and 310 mentioned above, so that the inner. margins of the sheets will be held.

accurately in close registering relation and,

"I, where desired, the sheets may be printed for a,

one half of the disiii:

This is an important feature to facilitate the closing of the book and to prevent binding of the sheets on the lower or inner portions of, the arches. To this end, therefore,

5 the present invention contemplates the provision f of a pair of booster fly leaves indicated in Fig- .ures5,7 and 8 by the reference numerals 5| and 52. ;These booster leaves are formed of rela- *jtivelyheavystock and are quite stiff. Each 10f booster leaf is provided with two tabs 53 and 54.

Thetab 53 is disposed adjacent one edgeof the tbooster leaf, while the other tab 54 is disposed inwardly. Each tab is punched to form an I ,elongated slot, as indicated at 55. The tabs 53 and54 and the slots 55 are formed so that while the booster leaves are identical, when one booster is turnedend for end and then leai as at 52,

brought into position to receive the lower arch of each pair of arches 36 and 31, the tabs of the reversed booster leaf 52 lie alongside the tabs 53 ands! of the other booster leaf 54. This arrangement brings the inner marginal edges 53a "0 ofthe cover panels swings the booster leaves 5| and 52 from the positon shown in Figure '7 through theposition shown in Figure 8. During this movement the booster leaves 5| and 52 fulcrum about the inner edges 53a and 54a of'their :5 .-tabs and lift the sheets 45 up to the arcuate portions 36b and 31a of the arches 3B and 31., This lifting action ismaterially facilitated due to the fact that the fulcrum edges 53a and 54a he a considerable distance away from the sideof the arches that passes through the slots in the tabs,

f whereby the angular movement of the booster leaves during the closing of the binder is sufllcient to cause the sheets 45 to be raised entirely onto the arcuate portions of the arches, as just mentioned. If the booster leaves 5| and 52 were not provided and an attempt were made to close the display binder by grasping the two top outside corners and closing the inside and outside cover sections together and then swinging them x 50 about their hinges, there might be some likeli hood of the sheets 45 jamming or binding. on the straight portions of the arches, with consequent likelihood of tearing or defacing the inner margins of the sheets.

1,5 55 To facilitate the movem nt of all of the sheets 45 onto the arcuate portions of the arches, I profvide an intermediate lift strip that is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 60 in Figure 9. The strip 60. consists of a narrow band 00 of stock having fold lines GI and 62 formed therein and slotted, as at 63 and 64, to receive the pairs of arches 35 and 31. The fold lines 6| and 62 are formed so that the side portions 66 1 and 81 of the member 6|! are freely movable relaosqtive to the center section 68. The lift strip 80,

as best shown in Figures '7 and 8, is placed between theinner margins of the sheets 45 and the booster leaves 5| are swung upwardly, as in closing the binder, it

and 52. When thelatter t willjbe seen from Figure 8 that the lift strip 60, upon which the booster leaves 5| and 52 act directly, serves to lift or raise all of the sheets 45 fonto the arcuate portions 360. and 31a of the arches. Also, the member 60 serves to prevent 75 any interference between the inner margins of and onto the arcuate portions thereof, whereby v o the sheets 45 and the edges 53a and 54a of the booster leaf tabs 53 and 54 when the binderis opened for display, as in Figure 1.

While I have shown and described'above the preferred structure in which the principles of 5 the present invention have been embodied, it 0 will be understood that my invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the 1 broader aspects of my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is; i l

1. A portable displayer comprising a central member, sheet binding means carried thereby, 1 panels hingedly connected to said central member for folding movement, and a cover unit comprising a central member and a pair of cover panels hingedlyconnected to said central cover member, the latter and said cover panels being hinged- 1y connected to said first mentioned central member and panels along their upper edges whereby the cover panels completely enclose the first mentioned panelswhen the displayer is closed and serve as a supporting easel when the displayer is open.

2. An easel binder comprising an interior central member carrying a rigid ring support thereon, binding rings carried by said support, a pair of interior panels hingedly connected to said in terior central member, and a cover section comprising a central rigid section and a pair of cover panels at least as large as said interior panels, and means hingedly connecting the interior panels and central member along their upper edges to said cover panels and associated central member, said cover section serving to support said interior panels and associated parts in generally upright position, said. interior panels being supported along their hinge edges by said central interior member and along their upper edges by said cover section.

3. A portabledisplayer comprising a pair of inner and'outer cover sections, each of said sections consisting of a central relatively narrow member and a pair of panels hingedly connected therewith for swinging movement relative thereto, means hingedly connecting the upper edges of the panels and central member of the inner section to the upper edges of the panels and central member, respectively, of the outer cover section, said displayer being adapted to be set in upright position on the lower edges of said cover sections when the latter are swung away from one another, and sheet receiving means carried by the central member of the inner cover section.

4. An easel binder comprising a narrow back carrying leaf-receiving means and a pair of side panels hingedly connected to said narrow back for opening and closing movements with respect thereto, and an easel section hingedly connected to the upper edges of said back and panels and adapted thereby to be swung away from the latter to support the binder in a position for viewing and to be folded toward said back and panels, said easel section including a back and side panels substantially coextensive with said first mentioned back and panels and serving as covers for the latter and means hingedly connecting the 70 side panels of said easel section to the back thereof.

5. A display binder comprising substantially identical inner and outer cover sections, each section consisting of a relatively narrow back mem- 7 ber and a pair of panels hingedly connected to opposite edges of the back member, means hingedly connecting the upper edges of said sections together, with the back members hinged together and the corresponding panels of the two sections hinged together whereby when the sections are folded against one anotherwthe binder may be closed and when the outer section is swung away from the other section or inner section, the binder is supported in display position, and a leaf receiving unitflxed to the back member of the inner section and adapted to receive and support leaves for display.

6. A display binder comprising inner and outer cover sections, each section consisting of a relatively narrow back member and a pair of panels hingedly connected to opposite edges of the back member, means hingedly connecting the upper edges of said sections together, and means secured to the associated hingedly connected panels of the innerand outer cover sections for limiting the swinging movement of the outer cover section relative to the inner cover section.

7. An easel binder comprising an inner cover having a central section and panels hinged to the edges of the central section, leaf receiving arches, each arch having two straight sides and a connecting arcuate part, mounting means operatively securing said arches to the central sectionof the inner cover, and an outer cover hingedly connected to the upper edges of said central section and panels of the inner cover and formed with an outer central section and outer panels hingedly connected together corresponding to the inner cover, said outer cover serving as an easel to supportthe binder in display position and the panels of the outer cover being substantially coexten- I sive with the inner panels so that the binder may be closed by grasping the panels of the outer cover and folding them toward one another. 

